The nausea hits me again. Something is forcing my hand up.
I raise my paddle.
"Ten million."
The ballroom drops into a vacuum. A thin string of saliva connects to the auctioneer’s lips as he stares at me. Ten million is insanity.
I don’t even want to fuck him. I’m just curious about this sadness he’s emitting.
Viktor doesn't look at me. But he’s mine now.
Minutes later, a handler, a woman in a skirt so tight I can see her ass cheeks, leads me through the bowels of the building.
She stops at a heavy door, swipes a card, and it clicks open.
Viktor is sitting on the edge of a metal cot. The oil on his skin highlights every white line of scar tissue. He’s massive, but his shoulders are slumped.
Defeated.
"Hello, Viktor," I say. I’ve never bid on anyone before, so I’m not familiar with what exactly I should be saying.
He stares at the floor, his trembling hands resting on his knees.
"Ma'am," he rasps, giving me a short nod.
We then sign the contract, hand over STD tests, and get the technicalities out of the way.
"Let's go," I say after it’s all over.
The walk to the car is silent. I toss him a heavy coat, and he shrugs into it without a word.
Inside the limousine, we sit opposite each other. I watch him out of the corner of my eye. He hasn't looked out the window once or even looked at me.
"Are you hungry?" I ask.
"No."
Well, this is awkward. Why do some people enjoy this?
"I have a cook at the house," I sigh. "He’ll make whatever you want. Whatever tastes like home."
"I don't have a home," he mutters in a slight Russian accent. "I have a cage."
"It's not a cage if the door isn't locked, Viktor."
A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.
"Every door is locked, Ma'am," he whispers.
We drive into the dark, two hollowed-out things sharing a cage of glass while the rot between us grows.
Chapter Four
Valentina
Idon't look back as I lead him through the foyer. Behind me, the dragging thud of his boots follows.
Elias is in the kitchen as always. The knife in his hand stops when he sees the mountain of scarred meat and grease standing behind me, and he tries to cover up his gasp with a cough.
